The Life of Sir Rowland Hill and the

1850] THE WORD OF A MINISTER. 165
thousands a year. I referred to the injury done to my
health by excessive labour, and the impossibility, under
due rest. I
present circumstances, of my obtaining
referred to improvements effected, particularly the
reform of the Money Order Department, to savings
actually made, and to others in prospect. Lastly, I
begged that if Government were still of opinion that
it could not immediately fulfil its promise, a period
might now be fixed beyond which the complete performance
of the promise should not be delayed, and that
arrangements should be at once made for the nearest
approximation to such performance that might be
deemed practicable.
Mr. Warburton, with his usual kind alacrity, promised
to see the Chancellor of the Exchequer without
delay, and to let me know the result. This interview
was unsatisfactory ; for though the Chancellor of the
Exchequer admitted my claim, spoke highly of me, and
said I was in reality the Chief Secretary, he promised
no more than that I should succeed to the post if there
occurred a vacancy at once suitable and acceptable to
Colonel Maberly ; though, upon Mr. Warburton's
pressing further, he expressed readiness to give me
more assistance, or to exercise his patronage in favour
of any member of my family, and promised to see me
on the subject generally. Upon my showing the Post-
master-General a copy of my letter to Mr. Warburton,
and reporting all that had passed, he admitted that
Government was afraid of being attacked by the econo-
mists for extravagance, if they allowed Colonel Maberly
to retire on full
salary. Nevertheless, he cordially
approved of what had been done, and volunteered to
speak to the Chancellor of the Exchequer himself, and
to back all that Mr. Warburton had urged. Two days
later he reported progress, informing me that the